Using bare lead bullets

[Nu2U]

Just started reloading, and I've loaded less than 250 rounds so far. I've been using copper plated or FMJ per the loads in the manuals. I would like to start using lead bullets to get the cost per round down. These are for plinking at the range in a semi auto. These would be commercially made for .45 ACP.
I clean the barrel on my gun after every session (100-200 rounds), so I know what to expect as far as how dirty the gun gets. What can I expect if I go with the bare lead bullets? I use the Hoppe's No. 9 and a bronze brush. Will my cleaning basically be the same, or does the lead present a whole, new set of problems? Lead fouling? Thanks for the help!

 

[jmorris]

With bare lead, you can expect a good amount of leading.

That said most all bullets are lead, some use a jacket, some plating, some a coating of some sort and various wax lubricants but they all help prevent lead buildup due to bullets going down the bore. The order I listed them in is best to worst as far as how clean you can expect your bore to be but there is no telling how many thousands of was lubed bullets I have fired over my lifetime. 100-200 plinking rounds at a time won't add much work to your routine. You might not like the smoke though.

Just buy one box and see how they work for you.

 

[Walkalong]

As posted, bare unlubed bullets will lead badly.

When asking about "bare" lead I am assuming you mean commercial cast bullets that are properly lubed.

What caliber?

Leading can be minimized or eliminated if you follow some basic guidelines for loading lead.

 

[MEHavey]

...assuming you mean commercial cast bullets that are properly lubed.

^^^^^THIS^^^^^

OBSERVATION: I shoot (nearly) exclusively lead in 38/357, 44, 45, and 30 cal rifle on up to 50 Beowulf.
With proper bullet softness (not more than #2Lyman/BH=15 and lower 30:1/BH=6-7)
I come home w/ absolutely mirror-bright bores on just a dry patch.

 

[mdi]

I'm hoping by "bare" you mean plain uncoated cast and lubed bullets from a commercial caster. Bare, non lubed bullets would lead your gun's barrels badly enough to be disastrous after 50 rounds...

I shoot cast lead in all my guns and have pretty much conquered the leading problem. Each gun is different in that it takes a different solution/method for shooting leading free. For a reloader/shooter new to lead bullets either buy Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook or visit Castboolits.com, a forum dedicated to everything concerning lead bullets. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php

A little more cast bullet info; http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Book_Contents.htm

 

[AZAndy]

You might have a look at some of the coated bullets-- I've had pretty good results from Bear Creek moly-coated, and they're pretty cheap. Missouri Hi-Tek aren't expensive either (haven't tried them yet, but it's in my near future).

 

[.308 Norma]

Nu2U, you wouldn't be talking about those swaged lead bullets from Speer and Hornady, would you? Those types bullets kind of look like they're "bare lead," but they're really not - they're coated with a dry lubricant. Even at that, they're very soft compared to most commercially cast bullets. Because they're so soft, if you try to push them as fast as you can push properly lubed and sized cast bullets, you bet, you're gonna have a badly lead fouled bore after a few rounds.

 

[Nu2U]

Thanks everyone for the excellent information. I gots lots to learn on this journey.

 

[USSR]

This begs the question, "Why would you not buy lubed bullets or lube them yourself?".

Don

 

[RecoilRob]

45 ACP is the perfect cartridge to fire lead seeing as the pressures are low and velocity will be kept below 1000 fps...so it shouldn't be hard at all to come up with a totally satisfying load that will keep the bore bright all day long. As mentioned...there ARE some things to be aware of when loading lead bullets, but it's not complicated or mystical at all so press on with your quest...it will end well for you.

 

[Dudedog]

Missouri Billet company makes some nice cast bullets for .45.
They have them both lead lubed and Hi-Tech coated.
They offer a 200gr SWC in two different hardnesses. BHN12 and BHN18 (harder)
One of my .45s seems to prefer the 12s the other does not really seem to care.

Lead lubed $42.50/500 + shipping
Coated $49.50/500 + shipping

MBC also has 230gr RNs for
Lead lubed $47.00/500 + Shipping
Coated $53.50/500 + Shipping

If you are attempting to save every $ possible use the lead lubed otherwise the coating is worth it for a few $ more.

Rocky Mountain Reloading has both plated and lead lubed as well as some FMJs on occasion.
I am currently using their 230gr HCRN for practice loads,they are Plated $65.00/500 shipping included
($124 for 1000 a bit of a price break when you order more)
They have lead lubed 230rns for $55.00/500 shipped.

Both offer THR members a 5% discount with the code.
(See BDS 's PIF thread here for the codes or PM me)

Lots of people also Like Bayou Bullets as well as Acme bullets.
I haven't used either in .45 however.

 

[USSR]

Ya know, the more that I look at this thread, the more I think he is talking about lubed lead bullets, and just calling them "bare" because they are not copper plated. If that's the case Nu2U, then as long as the bullets are bigger than your bore you will have no problem. You want them to be .452".

Don

 

[Lafitte]

Competitive shooters in some disciplines use literally tons of lubed lead bullets with no problems. We shoot a variety of calibers too extensive to list. Leading with lubed bullets is NOT a problem as long as the velocities are not excessive. (over 1500 or 1600 fps.) I shoot Cowboy action and Wild bunch and never even have a little issue with leading a barrell.

Lafitte

 

[GRIZ22]

90-95% of my handgun cartridge reloading is with lead bullets for the past 40+ years. I'd say 99% of my 45 ACP reloading is with a 200 gr SWC. Properly sized and lubed lead bullets work well and don't require any extra cleaning issues IMO.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ya know, the more that I look at this thread, the more I think he is talking about lubed lead bullets, and just calling them "bare" because they are not copper plated. If that's the case Nu2U, then as long as the bullets are bigger than your bore you will have no problem. You want them to be .452".

Don

I agree, that's what I thought when I read the OP.

 

[Nu2U]

Quote:
Originally Posted by USSR View Post
Ya know, the more that I look at this thread, the more I think he is talking about lubed lead bullets, and just calling them "bare" because they are not copper plated. If that's the case Nu2U, then as long as the bullets are bigger than your bore you will have no problem. You want them to be .452".

Don
I agree, that's what I thought when I read the OP.

I apologize for my ignorance about lead bullets. Bare is not the correct terminology. You BOTH are correct. I just want to load with something cheap to send downrange. It seems foolish to send those nice, copper clad bullets down to the bullet trap. So far, my cost per round is still exceeding factory ammo.

 

[Mauser69]

So far, my cost per round is still exceeding factory ammo.

Holy cow! your reloads cost MORE than factory??? I cannot imagine that. Even with bulk junk calibers like 9mm that are available fairly cheap, it does not take much careful buying to get your reloads at least a little below factory cost. Time to start doing more price comparisons with your purchases. Even if you do not have any decent re-sellers close to you, there are lots of on-line sources available for any components.

 

[.308 Norma]

Holy cow! your reloads cost MORE than factory??? I cannot imagine that. Even with bulk junk calibers like 9mm that are available fairly cheap, it does not take much careful buying to get your reloads at least a little below factory cost. Time to start doing more price comparisons with your purchases. Even if you do not have any decent re-sellers close to you, there are lots of on-line sources available for any components.

Maybe Nu2U is factoring in "start-up" costs. It takes a while for any handloader to recover the initial costs of the tools and equipment they need for handloading.

But if that's not it, neither can I imagine reloaded ammo costing more than factory ammo. As you said; not "Even for bulk junk calibers like 9mm that are available fairly cheap."

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Nu2U, how are you calculating your costs? Usually the cost of the brass isn't included because many of us will not buy brass, we use once fired brass from factory ammo.

Even at current component prices it will be hard to match or exceed factory ammo costs.

Powder @$25 lb.
Primers @$30 k
Lead 124gr bullets @$32/500

That would come out to 11¢ a round, $5.49/box of 50

 

[drband]

I second the Hi-tek coated bullets from Missouri Bullet co, Bayou Bullets, and others. It's worth it to eliminate the smoke from lead bullet lube. Prices are competitive and you will load for much, much less than commercial ammo.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Amen! You cannot go wrong with Missouri Bullets!

 

[Dudedog]

My cost using RMR Plated for .45 ACP

Bullets $124-5% =$118
Powder $ 25
Primers $ 25

Lets round up a hair and call it $175/1000
That's $17.50/100 or $8.75 for a box of 50
.175 a round

Using MBC lead lubed (order 2000 bullets to offset shipping cost)
Bullets $170+$15 shipping lets call it #162 with the 5% discount
Powder $ 50
Primers $ 50

Lets round up a hair and call it $277/2000
That's 1=$13.85/100 or $6.93 for a box of 50
.1385 a round

either is a big savings over factory and will probably shoot better as well.

On average cheap .45 seems to be going for around $15/50 so reloading it is about 1/2 price.
So say you spent $300 for a Lee Classic Turret press kit and dies break even would be after box #20.

Warning
Reloading probably won't save you any money you will spend it on more reloading goodies or just shoot twice as much

 

[Bama Drifter]

I 2nd or 3rd the motion to try MBC Hitek coated... I believe they list their 230gr option as "Softball .452" which btw, runs sweet in my Colt SAA using 7gr of W231. Can't remember exactly what I stuff inside the ACP cases, but it is dang accurate!

Sent from my HUAWEI G620-A2 using Tapatalk

 

[TheotherMikeG]

I've found that good quality lead bullets, sized properly and with a light coating of Lee liquid Alox, leave a nice clean bore.

 

[TimSr]

These would be commercially made for .45 ACP.

I'd be petrified of using lead bullets after reading this thread if I didn't know any better.

KISS. No need to solve every problem known to man before you've loaded your first one.

Buy a box of 500 BRN 12 for cast bullets .45 ACP from Missouri bullet company, and use published loads for the bullet you select. Work up far enough to cycle the action properly, and you are not likely to see any problems. They will already be lubed, as most commercially made lead bullets are.

Avoid the Speer, Hornady, or other name brand lead bullets sold in boxes of 100, as they are extremely soft, and only work well in the extreme low end of the spectrum.